A late burst of rains in Madhya Pradesh has given soybean farmers a reason to smile after a long dry period that was threatening to ruin the crop.

If the good spell continues till the end of the monsoon season, production may unexpectedly exceed the estimates by up to 10 per cent in the state.

Madhya Pradesh, besides Gujarat and Maharashtra, is a major producer of the soybean crop in the country.

Both farmers and the government had been worried as the monsoon not only arrived late but it also rained much less in the beginning of the season.

The production is expected to be good in Ujjain, Indore, Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad), and Bhopal divisions where the rains have been widespread and well distributed.

“Normal production is assured. And if it continues to rain as good as it has been raining, the target production will definitely go up,” Director, Agriculture, Dr D N Sharma told The Indian Express.

At Rewa, Shahdol, Sagar, Gwalior and Chambal divisions, however, which have light soil and lack of rains, the production will be less by 25 per cent.

The government is yet to release last year’s exact production details but the average yield per acre in the state is 1,100 quintal.

According to Soybean Processors’ Association of India (SOPA), the Indore-based national body representing soybean processors, exporters, farmers and brokers, the delayed spell of rains has made the crop secure.

The association said despite drought, soybean acreage has increased to 96.70 lakh hectares in the country.

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